The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 17

In his new role as pastor of the Northampton church, Jonathan Edwards turned his attention to the political, social, and economic activities of his congregation, shaping his preaching to the day-to-day occurrences in their lives. This volume contains eighteen sermons that Edwards composed in Northampton from the beginning of 1730 through mid-September 1733—such classics as God Glorified in Man’s Dependence and A Divine and Supernatural Light, along with many previously unpublished works. The selections illuminate Edwards’ development as a preacher and theologian. They also provide unique insights into the development of the themes that came to characterize his mature evangelical thinking: the viciousness of the unregenerate life, the importance of evangelical humiliation as a religious exercise, and the necessity of a radical conversion from worldliness to godliness.

The prolific period encompassed by this volume, though outwardly quiet, was crucial to Edwards’ maturation. Taking on the responsibilities of his calling—working with his congregation, finding his voice as a town religious leader, exercising moral and spiritual guidance, consulting with other pastors, and most of all developing a mature preaching style—Edwards came to see revival as the only solution to the social and moral ills of his time.